Kirkland Lake Fire Chief Rob Adair will make a recommendation at Tuesday’s council meeting that council pass a bylaw “to enter into an agreement with the Timiskaming Health Unit to enrol theKirkland Lake Fire Services in their naloxone distribution program, and Approve the policy “Carrying, Storing and Deployment of Nalozone”.
In a report he will present to council Adair states “The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services (MCSCS) launched the expansion of the Ontario Naloxone Program (ONP) to include police and fire services. This expansion will make naloxone kits available to all fire services to mitigate the impact of potential overdoses, and exposure to opioids to fire fighters in the field of duty.
“KL Fire Services will be able to contact their Timiskaming Health Unit (THU)to order naloxone (kits and/or refills)free of charge. This expansion was made available to all full-time, composite, volunteer and northern fire departments as well as First Nation fire services. KL Fire Services believes it will be a benefit to the safety of all its fire fighters.
“Naloxone (also known as Narcan) temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid drug overdose. Naloxone works by blocking the opioid receptors thereby restoring breathing and preventing brain damage and death associated with overdose. Naloxone is effective for 30 -90 minutes, giving emergency medical responders time to transport the affected firefighter to a hospital facility.”
“Provided in each hard shelled kit are two Naloxone Nasal sprays, gloves, and a step by step guide to responding to an overdose. Each fire department is entitled to two kits per emergency response vehicle. The Timiskaming Health Unit will provide training to fire departments on how to prevent, recognize, and respond to an opioid overdose using Naloxone. Reorders of the kits can be completed through the Timiskaming Health Unit.”
Adair notes “There are no budget implications as the naloxone and the training are provided free of charge by the Timiskaming Health Unit.”
Link to original article in Kirkland Lake Northern News: Fire service looking to become part of Ontario naloxone program